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Hackney police accused of waging `war" on community

01 January 1991

Hackney police accused of waging `war" on community
artdoc May=1991

Police in Hackney have been criticised over their involvement in a spate
of recent incidents. In one case, the Territorial Support Unit was
called to a pub brawl on Chatsworth Road, but then embarked on what one
witness described as a `rampage' attacking anyone in the vicinity. One
man, who left his home to see what all the commotion was about, said he
was dragged into a police van and severely beaten. The man already has
a complaint pending for serious injuries received in Stoke Newington
police station four years ago.
Stoke Newington police have also been criticised for the arrest of
a man for allegedly stealing a car that was his. The man says he
suffered a broken nose, bruises to his back and legs, and a cut wrist
due to being kept in handcuffs over a long period. `When they first
called on me I ran because the way they approached me led me to believe
it was the National Front' he said. `Once I heard them say they were
police I decided I would stop and see what they wanted. That was my
first mistake'.
In another incident, the arrest of a man on a drugs bust on the
Clapton Park estate led to large numbers of police reinforcements being
called in and to what was described as a `police riot'. The two
officers carrying out the arrest radioed for help, and initially a
contingent of 10 additional officers arrived. The arrested youth was
said to have been hauled to the ground and his brother and mother to
have been attacked and abused by police when they attempted to
intervene. Further police reinforcements arrived, including squads from
Bow Road, Old Street, Walthamstow and member of the TSG with dogs. One
witness said the police told a young girl that they `were getting their
own back to avenge PC Lawrence Brown', the officer who was shot dead in
September in the area. (Caribbean Times 16.10.90)

IRR Police-Media Bulletin, no 65. Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke
Street, London WC1X 9HS